Faculty, graduate students, and staff from the Texas A&M Department of Poultry Science participated in the Poultry Science Association (PSA) Annual Meeting, held July 14–17, 2025, in Raleigh, North Carolina. This scientific conference brings together more than 1,200 leading researchers, educators, and industry professionals from around the world to discuss the latest advancements and address key challenges facing the poultry industry.

Graduate student participants delivered both oral and poster presentations, highlighting research in areas such as poultry health, smart farming technologies, microbiology, genetics, and sustainable production practices. These presentations reflect the department’s commitment to advancing the field through research, innovation, and industry collaboration.

In addition to presenting research, attendees engaged in professional development, expanded their academic networks, and explored collaborative opportunities. For graduate students, the conference served as a valuable platform to present their work, receive expert feedback, and connect with leaders across academia and industry.

Participation in the PSA Annual Meeting reinforces the Department of Poultry Science’s dedication to advancing scientific knowledge, supporting student growth, and strengthening its role as a national leader in poultry education, research, and Extension.

Texas A&M poultry science graduate students, staff, and faculty at PSA 2025
Texas A&M poultry science graduate students, staff, and faculty at PSA 2025

Faculty and Staff Involvement

  • Gregory Archer, Ph.D. - Chair of the Maple Leaf Farms Duck Research Award Committee & National Turkey Federation Research Award Committee
  • Audrey McElroy, Ph.D. - Member of the Strategic Progress and Long-Range Committee
  • Samson Oladokun, Ph.D. - Chair of the Gut Check: Exploring Tools, Techniques, and Future Directions in Microbiome Research symposium and was a judge for the Student Competition
  • Lesley Gleason - Assisted the PSA with registration

Student Awards

PSA Student Travel Award - Ziyuan Zhao, Lindsey Wythe

Abigail Flores
Kolton Witherspoon
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Gregory Archer, Ph.D., and graduate students

Graduate Student Posters and Presentations

  • Temporal dynamics of sperm morphology in broiler breeders
    Triumph Okuku1, Florie Sambuis1, Kolton L. Witherspoon1, Cara Cash1, George Hammons1, Ky G. Pohler1, Giri Athrey1 1Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States

  • Using neural networks to identify semen parameters impacting broiler breeder fertility outcomes
    Kolton L. Witherspoon*1, Florie Sambuis1, Cara Cash1, Giri Athrey1, Triumph Okuku1 1Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States

  • Campylobacter hepaticus used as an indicator organism to evaluate biosecurity at a commercial egg farm
    Lindsey A. Wythe1, Yuhua Z. Farnell2, Morgan Farnell1 1Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States; 2Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States

  • The effects of Arginine, Threonine, and Valine supplemented throughout a 20-day starter phase on broilers challenged with coccidiosis
    Addison Elstner1, Rosana Hirai1, Austin Silva1, Kasey Young1, Abigail Flores1, Jason T. Lee2, Roshan Adhikari2, Chance Williams3, Audrey McElroy1 1Texas A&M University, College station, Texas, United States; 2CJ Bio America Inc, Downers Grove, Illinois, United States; 3Wayne-Sanderson Farms, Hoschton, Georgia, United States

  • Evaluation of mild woody breast meat's contact stiffness via beam buckling mechanism
    Ziyuan Zhao1, Siya Chen3, Yu Wang1, Giri Athrey1, Gregory Archer2, Dan Feng4, Ziteng Xu1 1Texas A&M University, Bryan, Texas, United States; 2Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, College Station, Texas, United States; 3Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States; 4Howard University, DC, Washington, United States

  • Evaluating the effects of different supplemental Selenium sources on Pekin duck growth performance and tissue deposition
    Isabella R. Villarreal1, Colby Allensworth2, Rosana Hirai2, Rob Shirley3, Ariel Bergeron4, Mohammed Amine Hachemi5, Denise Cardoso5, Gregory Archer6 1Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States; 2Texas A&M University, Bryan, Texas, United States; 3Adisseo, Alpharetta, Georgia, United States; 4Adisseo, Wake Forest, North Carolina, United States; 5Adisseo, Antony, France; 6Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, College Station, Texas, United States

  • Assessment of poultry transport coop microbiota post cleaning and disinfection
    Lindsey A. Wythe*1, Yuhua Z. Farnell2, Morgan Farnell1 1Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States; 2Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States

  • Investigation of poultry fecal removal efficiency and volume estimation on grooved-floor panels
    Siya Chen2, Yu Wang*1, Ziyuan Zhao1, Giri Athrey1, Gregory Archer3, Ziteng Xu1 1Texas A&M University, Bryan, Texas, United States; 2Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States; 3Texas A&M Agrilife Extension, College Station, Texas, United States

  • Treatment of chickens with probiotics under conditions conducive to necrotic enteritis development
    Mohammadali Alizadehsadrdaneshpour4, Charlotte Fletcher3, Samson Oladokun1, Khaled Abdelaziz2, Shayan Sharif4 1TAMU, College Station, Texas, United States; 2Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, United States; 3McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; 4Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada

  • Develop long-term avian airway organoids for avian influenza virus research
    Yuhua Z. Farnell1, Paula Chen2, Zeyu Liu3, Yuxiang Sun3, Morgan Farnell1 1Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States; 2USDA-ARS, Columbia, Missouri, United States; 3Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States

  • Effects of provisioning a moonlight regimen on layer fear and stress susceptibility
    Isabella R. Villarreal1, Parker Watson1, Gabrielle House2, Aaron Stephan2, Gregory Archer3 1Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States; 2Once, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States; 3Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, College Station, Texas, United States

  • The effects of feeding a xylanase – beta-glucanase combination on growth performance and energy efficiency in broilers fed a complex diet
    Emily Jiral1, Gregory Archer2, Abiodun Bello3, Sasha van der Klein3, Kirsty Gibbs3, Yueming dersjant-li3, Susan Arent4, Ester Vinyeta4 1Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States; 2Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, College Station, Texas, United States; 3Danisco Animal Nutrition & Health, Oegstgeest, Netherlands; 4Dansico Animal Nutrition & Health, Brabrand, Denmark

  • Evaluation of supplementing different phytogenic substances on broiler growth and gut health to 35 days of age
    Colby Allensworth1, Parker Watson1, Gregory Archer2 1Texas A&M University, Bryan, Texas, United States; 2Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, College Station, Texas, United States

  • The effect of feeding new Bacillus probiotic strains on the growth of Ross 708 male broilers
    Abigail Flores1, Rosana Hirai1, Addison Elstner1, Rahul Reddy1, Austin Silva1, Camryn Wilder1, Kasey Young1, Skylar White2, Charles Greenwald2, Audrey McElroy1 1Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, United States; 2NCH Life Sciences, Irving, Texas, United States

Official event images can be found here